WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRE SIREN SOUNDS?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 31, 10 December 1948, Page 5

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRE SIREN SOUNDS?

How Volunteer Firemen Work

The fire alarm rings at Whakatane. From every direction come men running or in cars. They board the engine and within a matter of seconds are speeding along the road to the fire. They know where to go and they know the short cuts, for every minute counts. , There is no confusion but a well ordered trained bunch of men who know their duties and carry them out with the efficiency of soldiers. What is the story behind the volunteer fire brigade, as it is in Whakatane? ~ How do the men know where to go when there is an alarm? Who controls the brigade? Few people know the story of the workings of the brigade, so yesterday a Beacon reporter saw for himself the alarm system in action.

Alarm Boxes Around the town there are placed in various positions 13 alarm boxes. They are the ones with the glass windows, familiar to most people. When one of these is set off the sirens at the station begin to whine and the alarm is on.

At the station each box,is numbered and by a clock system a hand will point to which ever alarm number is released. This is checked with the address of the number and the brigade then know which box was used to give the alarm.' The engine is sent to the scene of the fire with a full crew, which consists of four men and a driver. Other brigade members make their way to the outbreak as fast as possible. The alarm may also be given direct from the telephone exchange, which is connected directly with the station.

When an alarm is given the brigade stresses the fact that it must have all particulars. If it is given to the exchange then the full ad-, dress and the type of, outbreak should also be given. When the alarm is given from a box then someone should wait by the box, until the brigade arrives and then show where the fire is. Time is very important and with clear, concise directions the brigade may get to a fire so much quicker. Voluntary Organisation

The Whakatane Fire Brigade is an entirely voluntary organisation and contrary to the belief of many, it does not have a permanent staff at the station. The members do training in their own time and when there is an alarm and they are called from work, they are not paid for attending. The present station is rented from the Borough Council by the Whakatane Fire Board, which controls the brigade. Plans for a new station have been prepared, however, for. a section in Commerce Street facing down Domain Road. The present station building is beginning to fall in - to disrepair. Being a voluntary organisation it is essential that the brigade receive all assistance from the public. They have often arrived at fires to find the outbreak surrounded by cars and people, while they themselves have been unable to get near it. Then it is a common experience to receive advice from somebody who knows all about extinguishing fires. But they are used to this now and try not to let it worry them. All the brigade is concerned about is answering an alarm and putting out fires in the shortest -possible time.